Zelensky Confirms Ukrainian Delegation Will Attend Peace Talks in Istanbul

June 2 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine will participate in the second round of negotiations with Russia, set to take place in Istanbul. “Our delegation will attend the talks on Monday,” Zelensky said in a statement posted to his official Telegram channel. “We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the talks and said Moscow would present a memorandum towards a ceasefire to Kyiv at the talks.

Zelensky said he had given clear directives ahead of the meeting, outlining Ukraine’s key demands: a complete and unconditional ceasefire, the release of all prisoners, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children. He also called for a high-level summit between the two countries’ leaders to reach lasting peace and ensure long-term security. Rustem Umerov will lead the delegation. Zelensky added that he had met earlier on Saturday with top officials, including the ministers of defense and foreign affairs, military leadership, intelligence, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

Kyiv has presented its version of the memorandum to Washington and Moscow, where unnamed Ukrainian officials reportedly told the New York Times that it centered on a full ceasefire monitored by international partners. Reuters, citing its Kremlin sources, said Moscow’s version contains maximalist demands such as a freeze on NATO expansion, removal of sanctions, and Ukraine’s permanent neutrality Despite the lack of documents from Moscow before the talks, Washington’s Ukraine Envoy Keith Kellogg has urged Kyiv to attend Monday’s talks nonetheless.

Source: kyivpost.com